Keli Lane Sues NSW Government Over Prison Abuse Allegations
Convicted baby killer Keli Lane has launched a $2 million lawsuit against the New South Wales government, claiming it failed in its duty of care to protect her from sexual assault and mistreatment at the hands of prison officers, including disgraced corrections guard Wayne Astill.
Lane, jailed in 2010 for the murder of her infant daughter Tegan, was sentenced to 18 years in prison with a non-parole period of 13 years and five months. She has long maintained her innocence, insisting she handed Tegan over to the baby’s biological father. As no body has ever been found, Lane has been denied parole under NSW’s controversial “no body, no parole” laws.
Her civil case now shines a harsh spotlight on Corrective Services NSW, already tarnished by scandals and investigations into systemic abuse.
Allegations of Abuse Behind Bars
In March this year, NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson publicly identified Lane as a sexual assault victim of Astill, a former corrections officer who repeatedly abused female inmates at Dillwynia Correctional Centre between 2014 and 2019. The scandal triggered a sweeping inquiry that exposed grave management failures and prompted calls for reform within the prison system.
Ms Higginson told parliament that Lane suffered not only at Astill’s hands but also from other officers and senior managers who harassed, intimidated, and even punished her for speaking out. Reports were allegedly ignored, leaving Lane trapped in an environment of abuse and retaliation.
In her Supreme Court statement of claim, Lane accuses the correctional system of breaching its duty of care and subjecting her to inhumane treatment. She alleges misconduct by 13 current and former officers, as well as former commissioners, whom she says either failed to act or were recklessly indifferent to the abuse.
Legal Battle in the Supreme Court
The NSW Supreme Court heard on Thursday that Lane’s claims go beyond negligence. She is suing for misfeasance in public office, false imprisonment, and trespass to person, alleging systemic abuse of power.
Adrian Williams, representing the NSW minister of corrections and the commissioner for corrective services, challenged the validity of Lane’s pleadings, pointing to what he described as “flaws” and “ambiguity.” For example, he questioned whether former commissioner Peter Severin could be said to have a “positive obligation” to ensure inmate safety, arguing such duties did not translate directly into legal powers.
The court also considered whether the state could be held vicariously liable for officers’ misconduct if proven, given that the alleged abuse occurred while Lane was in custody. Williams earlier sought to delay proceedings until all 13 named individuals had been served and given the chance to appear, but this motion was dismissed.
Justice Peter Garling adjourned the hearing to allow Lane’s legal team to refine the claim, including specifying damages and clarifying the powers allegedly abused.
Calls for Accountability
Speaking after the hearing, Ms Higginson reiterated that Lane’s treatment highlighted deeper flaws in NSW’s prison system.
“She has suffered abuse and degrading, inhumane treatment from people who owed her a duty of care,” Higginson said. “It’s almost impossible to access justice from behind bars. Look at the harm Wayne Astill inflicted while he remained in the system unchecked.”
She stressed that imprisonment strips individuals of their liberty but not their fundamental human rights. “When someone is sentenced under NSW law, the state cannot deprive them of dignity,” she said.
Lane’s lawsuit not only seeks financial compensation but also underscores the ongoing debate about prisoner welfare, institutional accountability, and the urgent need for reform in a system repeatedly criticised for shielding misconduct rather than addressing it.
